Why Portland became the perfect, rain-soaked home for a modern fairy tale
In short: When creators sought a setting for a dark, supernatural police procedural, they bypassed typical urban hubs for the Pacific Northwest. By leveraging the dense forests of Washington Park and Forest Park, they turned Portland into a character itself, providing an enchanting, moody backdrop for a world of hidden mythological creatures.
The television series Grimm, which ran for 123 episodes from 2011 to 2017, follows homicide detective Nick Burkhardt. After discovering his lineage as a Grimm—a guardian tasked with maintaining balance between humanity and Wesen, or mythological creatures—Nick navigates a complex reality where fairy tales are literal. The show was originally conceived for CBS but stalled during the 2007–08 writers' strike, eventually finding its home on NBC.
Producers David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf intentionally selected Portland for its unique blend of urban and rural settings. They noted that the city's layout, characterized by its signature rain and lush, expansive forests, provided the ideal atmosphere for their dark, fantastical project. This environment allowed the show to move beyond simple procedural tropes, grounding its supernatural elements in a tangible, atmospheric location that felt distinct from other dramas of the era.
While the series initially received mixed reviews, with some critics finding the literal interpretation of fairy-tale archetypes too simplistic, reception improved significantly as the show expanded its own mythology. By the second season, the series earned a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show's success was bolstered by its strong performance in delayed viewing metrics, proving that audiences were captivated by its clever, tense, and humorous take on the genre.
The production's commitment to its setting was matched by its attention to detail, including the creation of prominent, hand-drawn Grimm books. Beyond the screen, the world of the show expanded into comic books and a series of novels, such as The Icy Touch and The Chopping Block. Ultimately, the show's legacy remains tied to its ability to transform a modern American city into a space where the strange and the mundane coexist.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Grimm (TV series)
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